Senior Systems Game Designer — Hybrid (RPG/Strategy)

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Generous vacation and holidays

Hybrid Sandton office access

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Sandton is seeking a Senior Game Designer specializing in Systems Design to shape core mechanics, progression, and player experiences. You will collaborate with engineers, artists, and producers to prototype and refine engaging game systems.

The role emphasizes balancing gameplay loops, documenting design specs (GDDs), and mentoring junior designers. Hybrid work with in‑office Sandton facilities and remote flexibility offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in game design with systems focus.
• Proven shipping experience in systems-heavy games (RPG/strategy).
• Proficient in GDDs, flowcharts, data spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Design, document, and prototype core game systems (combat, economy, progression, AI).
• Balance mechanics to create challenging yet rewarding experiences.
• Collaborate with engineers to implement and iterate on systems with clear specs.
• Work with artists and UI/UX to present systems intuitively.
• Conduct playtests and analyze feedback for improvements.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to team design expertise.
• Stay current with industry trends and player expectations.
• Contribute to overall game vision and direction.

Skills

Systems design

Game design

Documentation

Analytical ability

Communication

Collaboration

Mentoring

Industry trends

Education

Bachelor’s in Game Design

Bachelor’s in Computer Science

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Lua

C#

Job description

Placements24 in Sandton is seeking a Senior Game Designer specializing in Systems Design to shape core mechanics, progression, and player experiences. You will collaborate with engineers, artists, and producers to prototype and refine engaging game systems.

The role emphasizes balancing gameplay loops, documenting design specs (GDDs), and mentoring junior designers. Hybrid work with in‑office Sandton facilities and remote flexibility offered.